PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Norwich University women's basketball team could not maintain a halftime lead, falling victim to a second-half surge by Johnson & Wales University in an 80-66 loss to the Wildcats in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday afternoon.

Haley Brewster (Virginia Beach, Va.) netted 28 points in the loss, shooting a blistering 13-14 from the charity stripe to lead the way.  Maren McGinn (Georgia, Vt.) recorded another double-double, posting 16 points and 11 caroms while denying two shots.

The Cadets and Wildcats exchanged advantages to open the first quarter, as JWU struck gold early on a slew of three-point bombs.  Norwich overcame an early five-point hole, building a pair of five-point edges in the waning minutes behind baskets from Brewster and McGinn.

Norwich maintained the momentum throughout the second frame, never relinquishing the lead but instead rushing out to an eight-point edge on a 7-0 spurt.  The Wildcats ended the half on their own run, carrying the flow into the third quarter and eventually reclaiming the lead.

The Cadets remained within striking distance, but could not overcome the JWU resurgence.  The visitors came close in the opening minutes of the fourth, bringing a double-digit Johnson & Wales lead down to four on four-straight points from McGinn and a Brewster jumper, but the hosts recovered and held on for the 14-point lead.

The Cadets held a 20-18 advantage in points off turnovers, having generated 20 Wildcat turnovers.  Norwich shot a staggering 20-25 from the charity stripe.

Norwich hits the road for one more tilt at New England College on Wednesday, Feb. 7, taking on the Pilgrims at 5:00 p.m. in Henniker, N.H.  The Cadets will then return home for Senior Day, hosting Lasell University on Saturday, Feb. 10.